MILWAUKEE — It’s an ick Susie Gilsdorf can’t get out of her head.
On Wednesday, September 4, between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., a man broke into a Washington Heights home through a window and stole a number of sentimental items.
She reached out to TMJ4 News for help tracking the items down.
The Milwaukee Police Department is also investigating the situation.
Gilsdorf and her husband were not home at the time. She was at work when she got the call.
“I didn't expect to get a phone call from my husband saying that someone had broken into our house in the middle of the day or ever,” said Susie.
The burglar grabbed a number of items, like rings belonging to her late mother and grandmother, a ring from her husband, an Air Force Academy box with her grandfather’s coin collection, and watches.
She’s really missing one particular item that the burglar stole, which served as a tribute to her mom.
“I have a necklace with some of her remains still, and that's personal; that's not a pawn shop deal,” said Gilsdorf.
Gilsdorf didn’t have a picture of it but described it as a white gold heart necklace with “Mom 1954-2014” on the back. Some of the ashes are inside of it.
The burglar came from the alley. Surveillance photos from her backyard show him walking with a removed window screen.
Another photo showed him with a pillowcase full of the items.
Watch: Burglar steals items, necklace with mother's ashes from Milwaukee woman
Gilsdorf believes the burglary was premeditated since the house wasn’t ransacked.
“It seemed like this is someone who knew what they were looking for and knew that they were coming into someone's home looking for valuables, maybe to pawn jewelry, watches, money, anything in a drawer, in a personal area,” said Gilsdorf.
The Milwaukee Police Department could be seen following up with their investigation on Thursday.
The burglar also scared her two cats into hiding. They were eventually located but caused quite a bit of concern on Wednesday.
Susie told TMJ4 News that neighbors have also stepped up and become more vigilant as they help search for the man and her belongings.
“If the house were burning down, there are very few things I would grab outside of my people, my cats,” said Gilsdorf. “It's not belongings, but there are a couple of things that he took that are very, very personal to me.”
She’s now canvassing pawn shops to inform them of what to look out for.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or P3 Tips.
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